Minority forum slams Awami League for inaction against torture

Brutality of persecution and attack on religious minorities in Bangladesh during the incumbent Awami League-led government has exceeded the limit of torture on minorities during Pakistan period. Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Welfare Forum made the allegation from a press conference at the National Press Club on May 7.

Convenor of the organization Gautam Chakrabarty said the extent of inhuman torture and destruction of the minorities perpetrated after the Awami League came to power is beyond imagination.

He said they did not get justice in a single incident even after complaining to the government about torture and attacks on minorities, land grabbing, vandalizing temples and idols, and rape and murders.

In response to a question, he said they would declare tougher movement if the government does not stop persecution of the minorities and try the attackers.

Describing some of the incidents, Gautam said the government did not take action against the attackers, many of who are influential ruling party leaders, and instead, blamed the opposition parties to hide the truth.

The victims are highly disappointed and leading life with fear and panic, he said, adding that the government would have to shoulder responsibility for the attacks as its leaders are involved in many of the attacks.

The main culprits have escaped because of the blame game, he said, asking the government to take effective steps.

During the press conference, Gautam highlighted some incidents such as grabbing of a Hindu landlord’s house in Faridpur by LGRD Minister Mosharraf Hossain, land grabbing in Thakurgaon by Awami League MP Dabir Uddin and torture on Hindus at Santhia in Pabna under the patronization of former home state minister Shamsul Haque Tuku.

The watchdog also says that the number of people affected by the attacks during the three months is six times higher than last year.

In 2015, the watchdog reported 261 incidents of attacks in which at least 1,562 people and institutions were affected.

But in the first three months of the current year, there were at least 732 incidents of attacks affecting some 9,566 people of the non-Muslim communities across the country.

During this time, at least 10 people were killed and 366 injured; eight women and children were raped and gang-raped; 10 were abducted; two were converted to Islam forcefully and 22 families were threatened to leave their houses.

The number of attacks on temples, houses and businesses, grabbing and looting was 655.